Southeast Asian nations told Myanmar's military government on Sunday its plan to hold an election amid an escalating civil war should not be its priority, urging the junta to start dialogue and end hostilities immediately.

SOUTH-EAST Asia’s fastest climbers are about to get faster – economic growth this year is anticipated to accelerate across major Asean markets as Asia latches onto its crown as the fastest-growing region.

SOUTH-EAST Asia’s two largest economies are the newest recruits of Brics, lending significant clout to the bloc that already commands more than 40 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product as it seeks to strengthen its role as a counterbalance to the West.

A senator told Hegseth: "I suggest you do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations."

LANGKAWI - Asean needs to double down on regional integration to enhance the grouping’s competitiveness, especially at a time when changes to geopolitical structures and economic policy are taking place worldwide, said Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers hold a closed-doors retreat in Malaysia on Sunday, as the country hosts its first meeting as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN amid an intensifying civil war in Myanmar and confrontations in the South China Sea.

LANGKAWI, Malaysia (Reuters) - The regional bloc ASEAN and China should make headway on a protracted code of conduct for the South China Sea by tackling thorny "milestone issues", including its scope and if it can be legally binding, the Philippines' top diplomat said on Saturday.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, grilling President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary over whether he had the “breadth and depth of knowledge” needed to lead international negotiations, asked Pete Hegseth if could name one member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,

Asia Gaming Brief has officially announced its highly anticipated Seventh ASEAN Gaming Summit, scheduled for March 17-19, 2025. The event will be held at the luxurious Shangri-La The Fort in Manila, Philippines, and promises to bring together key players from the gaming sector to discuss the industry’s future.

During his confirmation hearing, Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee couldn’t name a single member of the Southeast Asian bloc.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, was questioned about ASEAN during a heated Senate confirmation and struggled with his response.

Hegseth responded at the heated Senate confirmation hearing that he couldn’t tell Duckworth the exact number of ASEAN nations, but that “I know we have allies in South Korea and Japan in AUKUS (a pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S.) with Australia.”